Speculation mounts as to where Harry and Meghan will spend Thanksgiving

By Natalie Oliveri|

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to spend Thanksgiving with Meghan's mother but now it's looking as though the celebrations could be spent on home soil instead of the United States.

Prince Harry and Meghan confirmed they were taking "extended family time" from the end of November, following a busy year.

In a statement Buckingham Palace said the royal couple would spend Christmas with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, instead of with Her Majesty the Queen at Sandringham.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Thanksgiving plans with Doria Ragland
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are taking an extended break from royal duties. (AAP)

It was not stated where that would be, leading to speculation Prince Harry and Meghan would either take their son Archie to the United States or bring Doria to Windsor for the festive season.

Before that, though, Prince Harry and Meghan were said to be travelling to Los Angeles for Thanksgiving. The American holiday is celebrated on the last Thursday of November and this year falls on November 28.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Thanksgiving plans with Doria Ragland
Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with Meghan's mum, Doria. (AAP)

Meghan spent her first Thanksgiving in the UK last year, after marrying Prince Harry in May, 2018. The year before she was in Los Angeles, where her mother lives, celebrating the holiday. Just days later, Meghan had returned to the UK when her engagement to Prince Harry was announced.

Now she is a mother, it's only natural Meghan would want to introduce her baby son to a traditional Thanksgiving in the United States.

But the Daily Mail quotes an unnamed source saying Meghan would not travel to California for Thanksgiving this year, instead Doria will spend it in the UK with the Sussexes.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Thanksgiving plans with Doria Ragland
Doria Ragland may travel to the UK for the festive season. (AAP)

Either way, Prince Harry and Meghan are likely to relish the time they have as a family of three with the company of Archie's grandmother. Perhaps Doria will then stay in the UK in time for Christmas at Frogmore Cottage.

9Honey's royal commentator Victoria Arbiter says it's not unusual for Meghan to want to include her mother in the festive season, especially as she lives so far away.

"When any couple marries so begins the festive headache over who to spend Christmas with," Arbiter said.

Queen Elizabeth is said to have approved of Harry and Meghan's decision to spend Christmas away from the rest of the royal family.

"But as the Sussexes have been at Sandringham for the last two years in a row the Queen will have understood their desire to spend this year with Meghan's mother, particularly as Meghan is an only child on her mother's side," Arbiter said.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal relationship

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